Advent // Joy

John 15:11 (NIV)

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

Luke 1:26b-30 (NIV)

"God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God."

1.     When faced with fear of the unknown, Mary chose to accept God’s purpose and plans for her life.

Luke 1:31b-33 (NIV)

“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 1:34-35 (NIV)

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.”

Luke 1:38 (NIV)

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” 

Luke 1:46-49 (NIV)

“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”            

Advent // Peace

Luke 2:14 (NLV)

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, and goodwill toward men!”

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The invitation of Christmas 

1. Come to Jesus just as you are. 

2. Receive what Jesus offers. 

Matthew 11:29a (NIV)

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me”

John 14:27 (NIV) 

Jesus said…

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Jeremiah 6:16 (NIV)

God says to them…

“Stand at the crossroads and look;

    ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

    and you will find rest for your souls.

    But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Isaiah 9:2,6 (NIV)

“The people walking in darkness [those who do not have peace] have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”

[Hope and peace has come] “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Advent // Waiting in Hope

Exodus 13:17-22 (NIV)

“When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, ‘If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle.”

“Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the Israelites swear an oath. He had said, ‘God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up with you from this place.’”

“After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”

1.     God uses waiting to purify you and reveal His sufficiency. 

Exodus. 14:13-14 (NIV)

“Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” 

2.     You are not alone; You are waiting with God. 

Exodus 15:13 (NIV)

"In your unfailing love you will lead
    the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them"

Giving Thanks by Faith

2 Corinthians 6:8-10 (NIV)
“through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 5:19b-20 (NIV)
“Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1. Thank God for what He has done in the past.

James 1:17 (NIV)
“Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” 

2. Thank God for what He is doing in your present troubles.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NLT)
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

Romans 8:28 (NIV) 
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Ephesians 5:20 (NIV)
“always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

3. Thank God for His faithfulness in future challenges.

2 Chronicles 20:21 (NIV)
“After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 
               ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.’”

2 Chronicles 20:22 (NIV)
“As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.”

Against The Grain // It’s Not About You, It’s All About Jesus

Romans 8:31-39 (NIV)

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

‘For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

1.     “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 8:32 (NIV)

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

2.     “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?”

Revelation 12:10 (NIV)

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

‘Now have come the salvation and the power

            and the kingdom of our God,

            and the authority of his Messiah.

For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,

            who accuses them before our God day and night,

            has been hurled down.’”

1 John 2:1-2 (NLT)

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”

3.     “Who then is the one who condemns?”

Romans 8:1 (NIV)

“there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”

1 Peter 3:18 (NIV)

”For Christ died once for all the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit."  

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,

            he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was on him,

and by his wounds we are healed.”

John 3:18 (NIV)

"Whoever believes in him is not condemned" 

4.     “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

Romans 8:35 (NIV)

"Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”

Against The Grain // Living By Faith

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

John 3:8 (NIV)

“The wind [Spirit] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going.”

Galatians 5:25 (ESV)

 “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

Romans 4:17-22 (NIV)

“As it is written: ‘I have made you a father of many nations.’ He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, ‘So shall your offspring be.’ Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Stages of living by faith: 

1.     A word from God. 

Genesis 12:2 (NIV)

“I will make you into a great nation…”

2.     A decision to align your actions to what God has said.

Genesis 12:4 (NIV)

“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him”

3.     Waiting period. 

Genesis 16:1 (NIV)
“Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children…”

4.     Circumstances start to affirm your doubts about what God said.

Genesis 17:17-18 (NIV)
“Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, ‘Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?’ And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!”

5.     God will ask you to surrender the promise you now hold.

Genesis 22:2 (NIV)

"Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac— and…Sacrifice him"

6.     God will prove himself as the provider and protector of his promise.

Genesis 22:11-18 (NIV)

“But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’

‘Here I am,’ he replied. 

‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.’ 

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” 

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, ‘I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.’”

Romans 4:20-21 (NIV)

“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”

Against the Grain // Au Contraire

Living a Life of Love In a Revenge Culture

Romans 12:2 (ESV)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:9-21 (ESV)

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV)

You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Acts 4:29-31 (ESV)

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

1.             Be Perfect

2.             Love your “enemies”

3.             Pray for those who persecute you

4.             Do not be overcome by evil

RESTLESS

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

How Jesus Entered Rest

Jesus left the crowds to get quiet 

Jesus read and thought about the scriptures

Jesus spoke to his father and his friends 

Matthew 23:2-4 (ESV)

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.”

Matthew 6:31-34 (ESV)

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

Acts 15:5-11 (ESV)

In the book of Acts chapter 15, the counsel in Jerusalem discusses and even argues about whether or not the believing gentiles should be obligated to follow the law, or not.

1 Peter 5:5-11 

(ESV)

“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen!”

Against the Grain // The Pathway to Internal Peace

Matthew 5:38-48 (NIV)

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Exodus 21:23-25 (NIV)

“if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.”

Leviticus 24:19-20 (NIV)

“Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury.”

Deuteronomy 19:21 (NIV)

“Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

The upside-down Kingdom of God: 

1.     Retaliation is not of my Kingdom. 

Matthew 5:38-39 (NIV)

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” 

Luke 17:1 (NKJV)

Jesus said, “It is impossible that no offenses should come.”

Proverb 19:11 (NIV)

“A person’s wisdom yields patience;

it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.”

James 3:9-11 (NIV)

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?”

Luke 6:45 (NKJV)

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."

Psalm 51:10 (NKJV)

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,
             and renew a right spirit within me.”

Against the Grain // What is A Christian’s Role in Politics?

Proverbs 14:34 (ESV)

“Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sin is a reproach to any people.”

John 12:31-32 (ESV)
“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 

Revelation 1:5a,6 (NKJV)
"Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Psalms 24:1 (NIV)

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it”

A Christian responsibility when it comes to politics. 

1.     Pray first. 

1 Timothy 2:1-6 (NIV)
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”

2.     Vote for the candidate who will support more policies that align with Christian biblical values.

Proverbs 14:34 (ESV)

“Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sin is a reproach to any people.”

3.     Discuss politics from your Christian biblical worldview. 

“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.” 

— Dietrich Bonhoeffer